Page 11

Mira

I wallowed in the bath until the water got too cold.

When I finally climbed out, wrinkled as a raisin, I felt calm and capable again.

I dug around in my backpack for clean clothes, dressed, and combed out my hair.

Taking a deep breath, I tugged on my boots—my precious red knee-highs—and went looking for the others.

I had some people to thank.

Again.

As I walked down the hall, I caught sight of Rome’s broad back as he entered a different bedroom and I picked up the pace.

“Hey,” I called as his door started to close. “Are you busy?”

He swiveled and poked his head around the jamb, his eyes sweeping over me before he smiled.

“Nah. Come on in.” He held the door open. I walked in and the door swung shut behind me. “I scoped the building out and found a gym on the first floor. I came back up to grab my gear. Want to join me?”

He looked at me, his face inviting, so I nodded.

“Yeah, sure. Thanks.” I moistened my lips before I continued. “Uh, and thank you for saving me a second time.”

I reached out, intending to touch his arm, but he turned away and my hand was left hanging in the air between us.

“Kerry’s the one who paid for you and got you out.” He shrugged one big shoulder. “Thank him. All I did was wait in the car.”

I jerked back. If he’d punched me, it would have hurt less.

You’re such an idiot! Of course he doesn’t care what happens to you. My chest felt heavy, pressure crushing my breastbone. No one has ever cared. Why did you think he’d be any different?

Mortified, I spun away.

Hope taunts you and you fall for it every time, I scolded myself. Blinded by tears, I fumbled for the door knob. You are worth nothing because you are nothing. Learn the lesson already!

“Mira?”

Finally getting the wretched door open, I fled.

#

Kerry

The elevator door opened and I went to step out only for Mira to barge into me, nearly knocking both of us down.

“Whoa!” I steadied myself with a hand to the wall. “What’s going on?”

Her eyes were wild and wet and she was whimpering softly, but didn’t seem to know it.

What in the world happened? I was gone ten minutes!

“Thank you for saving me, Kerry.” Her voice was high. “That’s twice I owe you. If you ever need something I can provide, I’m happy to return the favor.”

She tried to brush past me into the elevator, and I saw she had her backpack, the one we’d bought her after we’d found her.

Confused but getting a bad feeling in my gut, I blocked her path and the elevator door pinged as it tried to close, sensed us, and reopened. I put my hand on it to hold it still.

“You really leaving us?” I was careful to keep my voice neutral.

“Yeah. Good luck with the mission and all. I know you’ll get Gemma back. I know it.”

“What’s wrong, Boots?”

Scowling, I watched her close her eyes, clench her fingers into tight fists, and draw in a shuddering breath.

This woman had spent more than two years as a lesser devil’s thrall and survived it with her steel backbone intact. She didn’t take any grief, not even from me, and she had fire in her soul. She had so many different kinds of strength; what could panic her enough to send her running?

“Mira,” I spoke quietly, like I did when I was helping Jax care for baby animals, “tell me what happened and I’ll help you fix it.”

“Some things are too broken to fix. You were kind enough to get me out when you came for Gigi, and I won’t ever forget it, but it’s time for me to go.”

“I came for you, too,” I corrected her. “You’re my friend, too. And I don’t want you to go.”

Her gold eyes flew open and I winced at what I saw in them.

“Thank you. Especially when I know it was my fault you lost Gemma again.”

“ What? No, that wasn’t your fault. If there was blame, it’s mine and mine alone.” I shook my head. “Look, when I had to enthrall you back at the pens, it musta stirred up your coercion taint. That’s probably some of what’s making you feel bad. Come back to the apartment.”

“I can’t. I need to let go of things that aren’t meant for me.”

“What things aren’t meant for you?”

“Please, Kerry, let me leave. I don’t want to drag anyone else down into the bad luck cesspool called my life. Besides, he doesn’t care—”

Her mouth slammed shut and she turned her head.

He? Who is she— Oh. Rome. Of course. Fury brought a blue glitter to my skin and I had to take some deep breaths. I warned him! What an idiot!

“Whatever happened, Boots, I’m asking you to stay because you’re my friend. You’re gonna upset everyone. And you’re too emotional to drive.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m an adult. I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can take care of yourself, but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you. I want you to stay.”

“I can’t.”

“I could make you stay,” I threatened, feeling out of options.

She glared at me, her eyes spitting like an angry cat’s. I almost expected her to start hissing.

“Try it!” she snarled. “I think I’d enjoy that fight more than you would!”

As much as I wanted to prove her wrong, I knew I couldn’t win this game because I wasn’t even one of the players. I was only standing in for the idiot who shoulda been there.

“Where are you gonna go?”

“The Sanctuary. Gigi gave me directions.”

I didn’t like it, not at all, but I stepped out of the way and let her dive into the elevator car.

“If you get in trouble along the way, call me and I’ll come.” I held up my hand before she could interrupt. “Just me, I promise.”

“Thanks.”

The door closed with a ping.

I don’t know how I held on to my temper as I stalked to Chance and Rome’s room. Hammering a fist on the door, I saw the blue on my skin and told myself to slow my roll before I set something—or someone—on fire.

Rome opened the door wearing his mean face.

“What’s wrong with you? Can’t you knock like a normal person?”

“What did you do to Mira?” I demanded.

“I didn’t do anything to her. Why?”

“Well, whatever it was you didn’t do, you better go fix it! She’s leaving!”

“ WHAT?”

“I told you she’d be fragile for a long time, but you didn’t listen.” I pushed into his space, balling up my fists. “Now she’s got her bag and her keys and she’s taking off. Go stop her!”

He shouldered past me in a cloud of blue and sprinted down the hallway. I argued with myself whether or not to follow, but, in the end, decided it was his mess and he could clean it up himself.

#

Rome

What is she thinking? Is she insane? She can’t leave!

My brain raced in time with my power-fueled feet. I couldn’t fathom what had happened to drive her away.

Finally reaching the parking garage, I leapt over roofs and slid across hoods, setting off alarms and shooting off jolts of power to shut them up.

I calmed a little to see her car still where she’d parked it last night.

Getting closer, I could see she sat behind the wheel, her forehead plunked down on it and her face in her hands.

So worked up I could hardly see, I ripped her door off its hinges—and my heart stopped.

She was crying.

No, crying was too weak a term for what she was doing. Grieving maybe came close.

My fury died in an instant and I knelt down and scooped her up in my arms. She gawked at me, but didn’t struggle or protest, so I opened the back door and sat down with her in my lap. As soon as I was seated, she pressed her face into my neck; I sighed and wrapped my arms around her waist.

“Mira, what happened? Why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying!”

“Okay, but I’m going to hold you while you don’t do it.”

She pounded my shoulder once, then gripped the back of my shirt so tightly I heard at least one seam pop. As I laid my cheek on the top of her head, a horrible thought hit me.

“I thought we made good partners. Are you sick of working together and want to ditch me?” My stomach lurched.

She shook her head.

“I said I’d take you to the Sanctuary. Are you afraid I won’t keep my promise?”

Her voice was faint, but I heard her rough no. I frowned, then thought of one more possibility.

“I know you didn’t ask to be sucked into our mission. Are you tired of helping us? No one would blame you.” I grimaced. “I gave Kerry my word I’d help him rescue Gemma, but I can make arrangements for someone else to take you to the Sanctuary. John Morgen can be here in seconds.”

She shook her head again and I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Resigned to her silence, I patiently twirled the end of one braid around my index finger.

At last she quieted down to an occasional hiccup and went limp in my arms, exhausted.

She was pressed so close, I could feel her eyelashes brush against my throat.

“It was me, wasn’t it?” I whispered. “I did or said something and it made you feel bad.”

She didn’t answer, but I knew I was right. I ran through the last few hours in my mind.

“Was it when we were talking in my room earlier?” I wondered aloud. “I thought we were going to workout together, but you took off. I was waiting to see if you were coming back when Kerry nearly broke the door down.”

“I tried to thank you for rescuing me,” she whispered, “but it didn’t matter to you. It was like you were saying—”

She stopped herself, but I got it. It broke my heart, but I got it.

“That you didn’t matter?” Gritting my teeth, I took her face in my palms and pulled her away enough to glare at her. “I was pissed , not brushing you off. Don’t you get it? Kerry made me wait in the car. Me! Wait in the car! Jeez! I felt so stupid, sending in a kid to get you when I—”

I stopped myself before I said something ridiculous.

“It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m just a burden you picked up and got stuck with.” She sat up and away, and I immediately missed her soft weight on my chest. “I’m gonna get outta here and let you all get on with your lives.”

“You are not a burden. And I don’t want you to leave. Do you hear me, you stubborn woman? I don’t want you to go.”